MINUTES

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

2009-01-22

YORK ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

MEETING NO. 1

Members Deputy Mayor J. Heath Councillor V. Burke, Acting Chair Councillor L. Kanapathi P. Ling, Chair, Markham Environmental Advisory Committee B. Mersey, Past-Chair, Markham Environmental Advisory Committee Regrets: Regional Councillor T. Wong Councillor E. Shapero, Chair

Staff B. Librecz, Commissioner of Community and Fire Services R. Borooah, Town Architect L. Irvine, Mgr. Parks and Open Space Development M. Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership V. Sawler, Manager, Markham Energy Conservation Office L. Duoba, Senior Project Coordinator R. Mohabeer, Senior Project Coordinator C. Smith, Strategic Services Energy and Environment Assistant J. Kee, Committee Clerk

The Environmental Issues Committee convened at 1:35 p.m.

1. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CHAIR

Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi

That Councillor V. Burke act as Chairman of the meeting in the absence of Councillor E. Shapero.

CARRIED

2. GREETINGS

Councillor Burke assumed the Chair and welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

3. “LEED AND BEYOND” – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

STANDARDS & GUIDELINES - DESCRIPTION OF

STUDY, PURPOSE & ORIGINS

Mr. R. Borooah, Town Architect, advised that Council requested staff to develop sustainability principles, standards, and guidelines to guide site planning and development in the Town of Markham in the future, and to help achieve sustainability goals. It was noted that these guidelines should be measurable, all-encompassing, very practical, and not too complicated.

He noted that in March of 2008, a Request for Proposal for consulting services had been endorsed to conduct the study, and the purpose of the meeting this date is to report on the status of the Phase 1 study being undertaken. A Phase 2 study, Neighbourhood guidelines, will follow in 2009-2010. Members were advised that at the present time, Interim Guidelines, approved by Council in March of 2008, will remain in place until the study is completed.

Mr. Borooah advised that the Environmental Issues Committee will act as a steering committee for the duration of the study and finalization of the guidelines. In addition, regular reports will be presented to CCC.

The staff committee is comprised of the following members:

• Lilli Duoba, Planning
• Mavis Urquhart, Strategic Services
• Stephen Kitagawa, CAO’s Office
• Chris Bird, Building
• Raj Mohabeer, Urban Design
• Ronji Borooah, Urban Design

4. PRESENTATION OF PHASE 1 REPORT

Mr. Doug Weber, of Halsall Engineers Consultants, was in attendance and delivered a presentation on the status of the Phase 1 Report of the Town of Markham Sustainable Development Standard Guidelines.

Information was provided on the following:

• Background (Town’s Growth Management Strategy Document)
• Precedents
• Current Conditions (Green Initiatives & Regulatory Environment)

• Principles, including: walkability; transit; stormwater management; reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; reducing heat island effect; and the protection of natural features
• Recommendations and Next Steps.

Following the presentation, Committee raised and discussed the following matters:

• consideration of the use of dark sky friendly lighting
• One Planet Living communities referenced
• the Province of Ontario should be requested to expedite changes to the Ontario Building Code (OBC); the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has struck a task force to encourage strengthening of the Building Code
• encouragement of developers to provide above Building Code standards; cannot be enforced
• other regulatory tools being used, such as the Planning Act and Municipal Act
• Town should offer industry incentives or initiatives; encourage buildings to renovate “green”
• reference to the City of Chicago’s adoption of The Chicago Standard, a new set of construction standards for public buildings; use of alternate credits
• has consideration been given to landscaping; measurable targets; green landscape; native and adoptive plants
• landscape maintenance plan must also be delivered
• there may be a need for staff training once this document is completed; budget must also be taken into consideration; timelines and phasing

Staff was requested to contact the Town of East Gwillimbury regarding their “green” practice with the building industry, and to report back to Committee on persuasive ways to encourage builders to choose a “green” program. In response to a query of Committee, staff advised that they will report back, during the study process, on how the Province could be persuaded to improve the Building Code, and on the Town’s ability to influence in some areas.

In response to a query regarding how this document would relate to the smaller applications, the “little builder” and infilling, and noting that there are current concerns in the Thornhill area regarding stormwater and flooding, staff advised that the Town recommends that Green Globe Standards be used for small development. It was suggested that the neighbourhood stormwater management issue in Thornhill should be studied as part of the Growth Management Study, and the Town Architect advised that he would discuss these concerns with the Director of Planning who would respond to Committee.

A question was raised regarding how greenhouse gas emissions will be addressed in the study, and the Consultant advised that the energy performance of buildings was not being considered.

It was noted that the Town does not have official energy conservation standards, other than the regulations under the Building Code Act. However, it was noted that the Town works with the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP), which is a network of Canadian municipal governments who have committee to reducing greenhouse gases and acting on climate change.

The matter of addressing “bird-friendly” issues was also queried, and staff advised that this would also be discussed with the Director of Planning for response to Committee.

Committee raised and discussed the following additional matters:

• promotion of mandatory labelling programs; Natural Resources Canada; “if you say how efficient your building is – it creates competition”
• definition of “energy standard”; is the Town of Markham meeting the minimum standard?
• this study will only be dealing with built form objectives; medium and high density buildings, i.e. townhouses, apartments, ICI, and condos; Committee expressed concern that the study should also be addressing single family homes
• Phase 2 will deal with the broader community development
• problems related to infill housing should be identified; lay ground rules
• protection of “white belt” lands (prime agricultural) is important;
• there is lots of land that will be re-developed and the next stage of the study will consider sustainability

It was suggested that a “diagram” should be prepared that would establish:

- what we have done;

- what we are doing; and

- what we hope to achieve

It was also suggested that this initiative must be understood as a piece of a larger picture, and that the goal is to become a sustainable city and reach beyond what other municipalities have accomplished.

In response to a query regarding offering incentives to fix existing structures, staff advised that the Green Print Plan, which is a community sustainability program, is to deal with the areas not covered by this study. Staff advised that the Town will be hosting a workshop for owners and property managers of Markham’s apartment and condominium buildings in March regarding energy efficient retrofits and upgrades. Representatives of PowerStream, Enbridge and Natural Resources Canada will be in attendance to discuss current incentive programs. It was also noted that funding from Markham’s Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF) will also raise awareness.

5. NEXT STEPS

Mr. Raj Mohabeer, Senior Project Coordinator – Urban Design, advised that the delivery date of the project is expected to be September 2009, with the bulk of the work being carried out in the Spring.

Members were advised that one or two more meetings of this Committee will be scheduled to obtain Committee’s input on the study.

6. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be at the call of the Chair.

ADJOURNMENT

The Environmental Issues Committee adjourned at 3:00 p.m.